Meka Whaitiri says Māori agribusiness is yet to realise its full potential.

Farm costs are rising rapidly and farmers are being urged to manage cows, staff and finance efficiently to stay profitable.

New Zealand's primary sector will crack the $50 billion mark in export earnings this year with the horticulture sector playing its part, according to MPI projections.

Who'll replace the backpackers? That's the dilemma facing the kiwifruit industry this season, which is looking at a shortage of 6,500 workers.

Pretty impressive - that's how Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor describes MPI's latest prediction that horticulture exports will hit the record $7 billion mark in 2023.

The ambitious goals of each of the primary sectors have come together in the past year to produce an outstanding result.

Despite rural contractors being told in mid-December they could bring in 200 skilled machinery operators into the country, not one has been given any MIQ space.

A critical lack of workers in New Zealand is pushing the meat industry to plead with the Government to urgently allow in more overseas staff.

The Meat Industry Association (MIA) has launched a stinging attack on the Government for failing to allow the industry to bring in sufficient overseas halal slaughterman.

New research into New Zealand's premium ice cream industry suggests exporters could find new buyers in valuable overseas markets as consumers increasingly look for high quality food.